The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1887-05-05
THE SORGHUM CROP.
Some Popular Directions for Sorghum Cul.
ture in the Western States.

ture in the Western States.
Sorghum requires reasonably good
soil, rather light than heavy, and if
manured, only well rotted stable ma
nure should be used. always prefer to
take time to thoroughly clean up and pre-
pare the land before planting. 1t makes
at best only slim growth at first and it
requires good treatment in order to
secure a good start. 1t is small plant
at first and weeds, stalks or other
trash will interfere considerably with
the work of planting and cultivating.
The land can be cleaned up and plowed
ahead whenever the work can be done
to the best advantage; care should be
taken to plow thoroughly and harrow
until in as good condition as possible.
There is nothing gained in planting the
seed too early, a better plant and a
better growth will be secured if the seed
is not planted until the soil is thor
oughly warmed up; l find this generally
to be from the first to the tenth of May,
sometimes you can plant earlier but
not often. Mark out the rows as
shallow as possible; but little covering
is needed, and if the burrows are run out
too deep the plants will be more difficult
to cultivate. A very slight covering is
needed, just so the seeds covered, is all
that is necessary. 1 prefer to plant in
drills, mark out the burrows about three
or three and a half feet apart and scatter
the seed as even as possible along the
rows. Care should be taken in this re-
spect. A good stand implies strong
vigorous plant at least every six inches
in the rows and careful planting is nec-
essary to secure this. Some time can
be gained by soaking the seed day be-
fore planting, that is if the seed is to be
planted by hand. We have planters very
convenient for this, but if you have not
this implement, with little care you
can plant very evenly by hand. The
worst difficulty in hand planting is the
risk of scattering in the row and making
the cultivation more difficult.
After trying various plans of covering,
| am satisfied that all the necessary
covering can be given with good flat
rock, attach horse and drive so that
the rock will cover the burrows; very
light covering is all that is necessary, and
care should be taken not to cover too
deep. If the burrows have been run in
shallow as they should be, you can COM
mence the cultivation with the harrow
very soon after the plants have made
their appearance above ground. This
will destroy all the weeds that are almost
certain to start up, and at the same
time loosen up and fine the surface.
Generally two harrowings can be given
with profit, after which the cultivator
should be used. regard it as essential
that the cultivating at the start should
be thorough. A good start to grow is
very necessary and this can only be
secured by giving thorough cultivation
at the START generally two harrowings
and four civilizations is all that will be
necessary, unless the land is very foul
and one hoeing may often be given with
profit, cutting out the weeds and plants
between the plants. All the cultiva-
ton should be given at the earlier
stages of growth. After good start
has been secured, the plants will gen.
orally make a rapid growth with very
little trouble
Reasonably clean cultivation is neces-
sary. You can not secure good crop
of sorghum and a good crop of weeds
at the same time and if the weeds are
kept down at the start until the plants
get well started, very little labor will be
required to keep reasonably clean.
For early the Early Amber is the best
variety and Early or Kansas Range
the next:-M J. Shepherd, in Elkader
ia. Farmer and Breeder.